Average life span: Bush dogs have no natural predators and can live to be 10 years old.

Height: Only 10-12 inches, due to their short legs.

Weight: 11-18 lbs.

Birth: Pregnancy lasts 63-67 days with litters producing up to six dark grey pups. Offspring nurse for about eight weeks, but pups can stay with their mother for up to five months. Non-breeding females assist in care of the pups and males bring food to the den. Bush dogs are sexually mature at one year old.

Now you know: Bush dogs, also known as water dogs, have webbed feet to aid them in their semi-aquatic habitat. They are good swimmers and divers. The bush dog has a short, bushy tail and rounded ears and muzzle. They live in packs with up to 12 individuals and utilize contact calls for communication. During breeding season, the alpha female secretes a pheromone that suppresses the estrous cycle of all the other females in the pack.

Living in mystery: Little is known of the bush dog’s behavior in the wild, due to the animal’s elusive nature and its dense habitat. Most of what is known about the species has been obtained from studying captive populations.

Protection status: Near threatened due to habitat loss and destruction from human activities. It is estimated that fewer than 15,000 bush dogs survive in the wild. The Detroit Zoo is one of only six zoos in the United States to exhibit bush dogs.

Detroit Zoo information: 248-541-5717, www.detroitzoo.org.

Editor’s note: Animals of the Zoo is a weekly series. Next: Giant anteater.